Paneer Biryani is a one-pot vegetarian meal with fragrant fluffy basmati rice, and pillowy comfortable chunks of flavorful paneer marinated in warming spices. Garnished with caramelized onions, saffron-infused milk, and herbs this gluten-free meal is ideal for on a regular basis in addition to particular events.

Bounce to:
My On the spot Pot Paneer Biryani has been tremendous common since I printed it 6 years in the past. The less complicated tackle the normal range prime recipe, the On the spot Pot model made it doable to prepare dinner Biryani in a single pot and with a fraction of the time.
I’m grateful to every one in every of you who has tried it and made it a part of your loved ones dinner desk.
Over time I’ve obtained many requests for a stovetop paneer biryani recipe and I’m tremendous excited to share it lastly.
On this recipe, I’m sharing detailed steps with all of my tricks to make Paneer Biryani utilizing the normal stovetop technique – from marinating paneer to creating the crispy golden fried onions and cooking fluff rice to perfection so every grain is separate. And lastly how one can make the ultimate layer of garnish so the ultimate dish seems colourful with genuine style!

Components
Marinating
- Paneer – do-it-yourself paneer or store-bought paneer works. When you have frozen paneer, be certain to thaw it earlier than. Gopi Paneer and Sach Paneer are a few of my favourite Paneer manufacturers. They’re obtainable in Indian grocery shops in addition to at some Costco and Entire Meals.
- Greens – crimson onion and bell pepper add a pleasant pop of shade in addition to texture to the Biryani
- Yogurt – plain entire milk or low-fat milk yogurt is ideal for marinating
- Ginger and Garlic – do-it-yourself recent ginger paste and garlic paste add an genuine style and aroma to the biryani.
- Floor Spices – crimson chili powder, turmeric, and biryani masala add excellent aroma and heat to the dish. I really like Kashmiri crimson chili powder because it provides a vibrant orange hue to the marinade with out including an excessive amount of warmth.
- Lemon – freshly squeezed lemon juice provides tangy flavors and balances the spicy flavors
- Mint – recent mint provides genuine flavors and is an effective way to include some herbs on this dish.

Rice, Aromatics, Spices
- Basmati Rice – Good high quality, fragrant, and aged long-grain Basmati rice is a should for making Biryani. Kohinoor further lengthy grain Basmati rice and Laxmi further lengthy Basmati Rice are a staple in my pantry and can be found in Indian grocery shops within the US.
- Onions – yellow onions fried golden-crisp are a should in Biryani in addition to as a garnish on prime. Ensure that to slice the onions skinny in order that they prepare dinner quicker. The onions can be comfortable while you take them out of the recent ghee however will crisp up as they settle down
- Ghee – a should for nutty style, the ghee is used to fry onions in addition to to prepare dinner the biryani
- Tomato – pureed ripe tomato makes a tangy base for the paneer to prepare dinner
- Entire Spices – black cumin seeds (shah jeera), cloves, star anise, inexperienced cardamom, and bay leaves are infused within the sizzling water used to prepare dinner the rice
- Saffron – infused in milk, saffron provides a pop of yellow shade to the rice.
- Cashews – elective garnish. Fry entire uncooked unsalted cashews in ghee till calmly golden or you too can pop them within the air fryer at 300 F for 4 minutes

The right way to Make Paneer Dum Biryani
Here’s a step-by-step recipe with images exhibiting how one can make excellent biryani.
1: Marinate the Paneer
Begin by marinating the paneer. Ensure that to make use of recent spices, herbs, and good-quality paneer.
I’ve used do-it-yourself biryani masala on this recipe however you too can use store-bought. Garam masala can also be an excellent substitute if that’s what you might have readily available.

2. Make crispy fried onions
I choose to shallow fry onions in lesser ghee as a substitute of deep frying them. You’ll be able to select both technique and use oil as a substitute of ghee. Simply be certain to stir them continuously and switch the warmth off as soon as they begin to change into golden brown as they are going to proceed to prepare dinner even after the warmth is turned off.
Reserve half of the onions for garnish and prepare dinner the marinated paneer within the remaining half.

3: Parboil the rice
Rinse the rice a number of occasions after which soak it in water for 20 minutes. Drain once more.
Prepare dinner the rice in boiling water infused with entire spices. It must be solely partially cooked, as it should end cooking when the biryani is “dum” cooked (slow-cooked in a sealed pot).
Drain the rice and reserve.

4: Layering
Saute the marinated paneer within the pot with leftover crispy onions together with pureed tomatoes. Ensure that to saute solely till every little thing is simply heated via. Don’t overcook the paneer.
Gently layer partially cooked rice over the paneer and veggies. You could select to take out half of the paneer and veggies, layer over half of the rice, after which repeat with the opposite half of the paneer and rice.
Add the garnish layers – saffron-infused milk, reserved caramelized onions, and golden fried cashews.

5: Seal and gradual prepare dinner AKA “Dum”
Seal the lid tightly by securing aluminum foil across the lid to stop any steam from escaping the pot. You can too put one thing heavy like a pestle on the lid.
Prepare dinner on the bottom warmth. This technique of gradual cooking is also referred to as “Dum” and therefore the time period Dum Biryani.
Permit the Biryani to relaxation for at the least 10 minutes with the lid closed earlier than serving.

The right way to Serve Paneer Biryani
Gently fluff the rice with out mixing it an excessive amount of. It will forestall the grains from breaking particularly when the rice is sizzling.
Serve Biryani with lemon wedges, Beet Raita, Cucumber Raita, or Beet Koshimbir.
When internet hosting family and friends I like to Pair Paneer Biryani with Mango Lassi, Parathas, Dal Makhani, and Gajar Halwa for a scrumptious Indian meal.

Storing
Leftover Paneer Biryani could be refrigerated in an hermetic container for 4 to five days. You can too freeze the Biryani for as much as 2 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge. Sprinkle a number of spoons of water over the Biryani and reheat within the microwave or a stovetop pan.
Tricks to Make Excellent Biryani with Fluffy Rice
Biryani is a beloved and flavorful South Asian dish that may be a bit difficult to excellent, however with apply and a focus to element, you can also make a scrumptious biryani. Listed below are some ideas that will help you make the proper biryani:
- Select the Proper Rice: Use aged further long-grain Basmati rice, because it absorbs flavors properly and would not change into mushy when cooked. Soak the rice for at the least 20 minutes earlier than cooking to make sure it cooks evenly.
- Select Proper Pots: In contrast to On the spot Pots that are available normal sizes, all of us have different-sized pots and pans in our kitchen. Be sure you use a heavy-bottom casserole pot for cooking Biryani and use a saucepan that’s sufficiently big to parboil the rice with a number of water. For the proportions of Biryani on this recipe a 4QT casserole and a 3QT saucepan work properly. They are going to be about ¾th stuffed when the biryani is absolutely layered and when the rice is parboiled.
- Use Recent Components: Recent and high-quality elements make an enormous distinction within the ultimate style of your biryani. This consists of recent spices, greens, and protein.
- Add Aromatics: Biryani is thought for its fragrant spices and herbs. Use a mix of spices like cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and bay leaves, and do not forget recent mint and coriander leaves. Layer them between the rice and meat/greens for a burst of taste.
- Selfmade Biryani Masala: Make your biryani masala from scratch. This offers you management over the flavors and lets you modify the spice stage to your liking.
- Do not Overcook the Rice: Parboil the rice earlier than layering it. It must be solely partially cooked (80%), as it should end cooking when the biryani is “dum” cooked (slow-cooked in a sealed pot). Overcooked rice will change into mushy.
- Seal the Pot: To make sure that the flavors are locked in, seal the pot with a tight-fitting lid and use aluminum foil to seal the perimeters. You can too place a heavy object on prime of the lid to maintain it sealed.
- Low and Gradual Dum Cooking: Prepare dinner the biryani on low warmth for the “dum” cooking course of. This enables the flavors to meld collectively, and the rice to completely soak up the fragrant spices.
- Relaxation Earlier than Serving: After the biryani is cooked, enable it to relaxation for 10 minutes earlier than serving. This helps the flavors meld and the rice to agency up.

Ceaselessly Requested Questions
Aged further long-grain basmati rice. Kohinoor and Laxmi model Basmati rice is my favourite. They’re aged, fragrant, and don’t break when cooked correctly.
1. Preserve a detailed eye on the rice when it is parboiling. Ensure that to show the warmth off when it’s about 80% performed which takes about 5 to six minutes in boiling water.
2. Promptly drain the parboiled rice to stop it from cooking extra
3. When you have overcooked rice, drain and unfold it in a layer in a giant tray. Layer it rigorously and scale back the ultimate gradual prepare dinner time to only ten minutes.
Undercooking rice could make the Biryani dry. Sprinkle 2 to 4 tablespoons of water on the rice layer earlier than the ultimate steaming of Biryani.
When you discover the rice to be dry after you might have opened the sealed pot, sprinkle 2 to 4 tablespoons of sizzling water and hold the child closed for a further 10 minutes.
Extra Paneer Recipes You will Love
Recipe
Paneer Biryani
Basic vegetarian Biryani recipe with cubed paneer marinated in warming spices, layerd with fragrant lengthy grain Basmati rice.
Servings: 6
Energy: 565kcal
Directions
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To a medium mixing bowl add yogurt, ginger paste, garlic paste, salt, biryani masala, turmeric, crimson chili powder, lemon juice, and mint leaves. Combine properly.
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Add onion, peppers, and paneer to the marinade and stir gently to evenly coat with the marinade. Cowl and hold apart for half-hour permitting the paneer to marinate.
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Soak saffron in heat milk and reserve.
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Frivolously fry cashews in 2 teaspoons of ghee till golden or air fry at 300 F for 4 minutes. Reserve.
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Add ghee to a heavy-bottomed pan and add onions. On medium warmth, fry the onions stirring regularly till they begin to flip golden brown – about 15 to twenty minutes. Take out half of the fried onions from the pan leaving the remaining onions and extra ghee within the pan.
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Rinse and drain the Basmati rice a few occasions. Add 4 cups of water. Soak for 20 minutes after which drain the water.
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In a medium pot add 8 cups of water. Add cumin seeds, bay leaves, star anise, cardamom, cloves, and salt to the rice and produce the to a boil on excessive warmth.
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Add drained rice to the boiling water. Carry the rice to a full boil on excessive warmth. Decrease the warmth to medium and prepare dinner uncovered for 4 to six minutes or till the rice is about 80% cooked. Drain the rice and reserve.
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Within the pan with the remaining ghee and caramelized onions, add pureed tomatoes. Prepare dinner stirring regularly on medium warmth for five minutes.
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Add the marinated paneer and veggies and saute gently for five minutes or till every little thing is simply heated via. Don’t overcook the paneer.
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Gently layer partially cooked rice over the paneer and veggies. High with saffron-infused milk. Garnish with the reserved caramelized onions, and add fried cashews.
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Safe aluminum foil across the lid to seal the pot tightly so the warmth doesn’t escape. You can too put some heavy weight on the lid as a substitute of utilizing the foil. Prepare dinner lined on low warmth for 20 minutes.
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Flip the warmth off and hold the lid closed for a further 10 minutes. Garnish with Cilantro. Gently fluff the rice whereas serving, don’t combine.
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Serve with Raita and lemon wedges.
Diet
Energy: 565kcal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 16g | Fats: 29g | Saturated Fats: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 5g | Trans Fats: 0.01g | Ldl cholesterol: 67mg | Sodium: 1409mg | Potassium: 346mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 848IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 367mg | Iron: 2mg
Creator: Archana
Hey there! I’m a techie turned recipe developer, cooking teacher, and meals blogger. I really like meals and luxuriate in creating simple and wholesome recipes for busy life. I stay in New Jersey with my husband and two sons.
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